 | | | The Rolling Stones |
The Rolling Stones are to hold their first-ever concert in China this weekend , three years after cancelling a pair of shows on the mainland because of the SARS outbreak. The veteran rock stars will play at the 8,000 seat Shanghai Grand Stage on the 8th April, with the stadium especially created for the Chinese performance, complete with state-of-the-art sound, video and lighting systems. Although this will be their first appearance in China, the Rolling Stones are fairly well-known throughout the country, with their 'Forty Licks' greatest hits widely available in shops and stores. The Rolling Stones catapulted to fame in early 1964 after their first Top 10 single 'I Wanna Be Your Man' and a bill-topping tour. While there have been ups and downs in the years to follow, the Rolling Stones are undoubtedly the longest standing rock band in the UK. Anticipation for the show in China is already running at an all-time high following the incredible critical and box-office response to the Stones' North and South American performances for the 'Bigger Bang' tour, which opened in Boston in August. Tickets for the Shanghai gig are in great demand although the price is too high for many ordinary Chinese people to afford. They range from 300 yuan to 3000 yuan (£21.50 to £215). It is not just the Chinese that are excited - the rock greats are equally thrilled by their China experience. As Mick Jagger, one of the founding members of the Stones said, "I'm really excited. We all know that Shanghai is a big important city, so we wanted to make sure it's on our itinerary. We don't want to leave it out." | 
